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Chocolate Whiskey Pots de Creme

March 15, 2010

It hit me while on the plane back to Charleston last week. I was fidgetting with excitement at the thought of seeing B. again soon. I did have a blast in L.A and Seattle but it would have been nice to share that with him. All the moments. On the moment. I just couldn't wait to get home and tell him all about the week. I still need to sift through my hundreds of pictures and thoughts.

The people I met, the friends I saw again. The exchange of information. Being part of a community. All these things are always better shared. He laughed with me and listen to my stories. Dozens of names he had never heard before. Patiently. He asked questions and encouraged me. And so, while sitting on the plane, about ready to take off, it hit me: Saint Patrick's Day was just around the corner.

This household is half Irish after all. I had to do something to mark the occasion. Knowing us we will be debating the virtues of historical markers versus those of green foods, green shirts and green beer. Still, he never fails to help me keep up with my roots so I wanted to do the same for his. Minus the green. Plus whiskey instead.

Green is far from being my favorite color to start with and I also did not feel like messing with green coloring. There was plenty of that during the Seattle workshops, well done and beautifully mastered. I was worried of ending up with Shrek green instead of Irish green. (I did before, hence the reference).

I like to have an easy dessert ready to be served for the first meal after my parents get in town. Tonight it's quiche and salad and these Chocolate Whiskey Pots de Creme served with some plain almond macarons to use up the egg whites left from the custard recipe. It's pretty sums up perfected comfort this time of year when the days still have this distinct nip in air. A foot in between two seasons.

Pots de creme always make me think of a warm motherly embrace. Trust me. We've been hugging. And catching up. My parents got here last night and in the middle of my mom's health problems, it is no small battle. But she's a rockstar. She's my rockstar. Even when she tells me half of everything (grrr...) She also tends to agree that a lot of problems are better solved around a good glass of Irish liquor. Whiskey is not my thing. Unless it is surrounded by chocolate. Oh yes...

As soon as I am done squeezing my mom silly, get done with work this week and go through my thoughts, I'll post more about the workshops but you can start by reading Rachael's recap of L.A here.Chocolate Whiskey Pots de Creme:

Place 6 to 8 ramekins into a roasting pan and set aside. Preheat oven to 350F and position a rack in the center.In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the honey for 2-3 minutes.In the meantime, bring the milk and cream to a simmer in a large saucepan set over medium high heat. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate to the mixture. Slowly whisk until the chocolate is completely melted. (return over low heat if it needs a bit more heat to dissolve). Slowly pour the chocolate mixture over the egg yolks and honey, whisking constantly until both mixtures come together. Add the whiskey and stir briefly.Divide the chocolate batter evenly among the ramekins. Pour hot water into the roasting pan so that it reaches halfway up the sides of the dishes. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until the cream appears just set. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before eating.

Pots de creme is one of my FAVORITE desserts--total indulgent comfort food! I love the sound of these, and love how you did something St. Patty's day sans green. :) If you come back to L.A., how about we make a trade? I'll make you a Japanese meal, and you make pots de creme. Deal? And make sure you bring B.

Hi Helen,I really want to make this, because they look so scrumptious, and I have a question too. I have exactly the same bowl as yours here (different color), can I bake using this bowls? Thank you.~elra~

Your beautiful post and pictures caught my eye, as always. I then clicked to see what "problems" your mom was experiencing. My husband has had 2 bouts of colon cancer and is still waiting to hear about something that showed up several months ago. I completely understand your anxiety and desire to be with your mom (and give big hugs!). I spend every day with my hubby, cook and write my blog. Life is precious, so enjoy your mom and that fabulous dessert!

Thank you so much for this recipe. My husband and I had this around a year ago at a restaurant and ever since he brings it up now and again with this glazed look in his eyes! So now I can make this for him - he'll be thrilled!

I love that you went with purple instead of green. I bet these pots de creme are absolutely fantastic!! Lively and happy post. I hope you have a splendid time with your parents. Enjoy giving them loads of hugs :)

yeah yeah whiskey that's nice; what did you think of seattle? tired of making macarons? hehe. not that i could have come (i'm cheep and poor) but i would have stood outside the window with a sign acting like you're Meredith and Matt. But alas, Seattle not for a few years.

I'm doing desserts for a small wedding....only about 30 guests. but the problem is i have.....absolutely no equipment or cooking supplies (actually i do have my pastry bags) but it is very hot here (and the oven has no temperature gauge...what?) and i'm worried about making chocolate truffles and yadda and fondant petit fours, and though i love them, macarons have become way too "everywhere" over the past year. but, i'm absolutely certain NO ONE here has ever had or even seen one of them. but i was worried about the air, but then you live in the south...ah well, i guess i'll try. OH i knew what i was going to ask you; how would i make really really light, almost white shells? i wish there was such a thing as white food coloring :P

Mallory Elise: there is powdered white food coloring (check on sugarcraft.com) but you can just bake them at low heat and take them out right when they are about to get some color, let the oven cool off and stick them back in there to dry when the bulk of the heat is gone.

1st: your photos are more and more gorgeous, the styling and the choice of colours are always perfect. I once tried a whiskey & chocolate cake and I liked the combination very much so I'm guessing your pots de crème would be perfect for me!And 2d, i haven't been on the blogosphere very much and before today I didn't know about you mum's health problems. Just want to send her all my good thoughts and a big big hug to her and to you :)

Oh I just love this! I've never made macarons before and this seems like a good time to try them. But I don't see a recipe for your plain almond ones. I know this is a very basic question, but can you point me in the right direction for this recipe?

Thank you so much for sharing! Your photography is just stunning and I am so excited to try your recipes!

I hope this finds you & your mother well. And by the way, as a photographer I think your images are wonderful. It's obvious you take care to choose the right props, and composition which do your edible art much justice.

I have made these delicious pots de crème for my boyfriend's birthday last Friday. They were absolutely delicious! I am lactose intolerant so I used soy cream and lactose-free milk and the recipe turned out great. I used a wonderful 18-year-old Macallan from our collection we brought back from Scotland, put 3 tablespoons in, the flavor was subtle but there. Couldn't have been better!

Binyamina: I fear that you will have to pick which recipe looks good to you and convert it to be vegan. This site is a reflection of who I am as a person and that reflects what I do on a daily basis which is far removed from veganism.There are many ways to adapt my recipes to suit ones choices and preferences (substitute dairy for dairy free, milk chocolate for dark, etc...) and there are entire sites devoted to the content that you are seeking which makes this blogging world that much more interesting to me. I do not pretend nor wish to appeal to all cooking, cuisine, lifestyle as this is not and never pretended to be the direction of this site.I do read and appreciate all comments but I believe that there are bloggers far better suited to answer such specific and targeted audiences.I hope you will find much to enjoy in the stories and pictures presented here and hope that you will feel confident to try to adapt them to suit your needs and preferences.

My son's birthday is St. Patrick's Day. When he was small I use to tell that all the parades on TV were for him celebrating his birthday. Finally he realized what it was, St. Patrick's Day. He is now 40 soon to be 41, So this a must for his birthday!!